bookcurios Chapter 158 Tailor-made clothes
Chapter 158 Tailor-made clothes
If Huo Shen were to follow his usual cautious nature, he would definitely press Xie Junfei for answers to such ambiguous statements.
But so much had happened tonight that he fell asleep before he could even ask any questions.
Shen Huaishan's disruption at the celebration banquet further heightened Huo's mother's sense of crisis regarding her daughter-in-law.
Early the next morning after the celebration banquet, Huo Shen received a call from his mother while still in bed, telling them to hurry back to the Xie residence.
The phone call sounded extremely urgent, and the young couple, who were still sleeping on Jasmine South Street, rushed back in a panic, only to be met by the tailor who had been waiting for them.
Mrs. Huo, dressed in a dark red cheongsam, affectionately took Xie Junfei's hand.
"Good boy, since we have time today, let the master take your measurements properly, and then we can finish making the clothes in time."
"I've already picked out the styles of the clothes. I trust Mom's taste; I guarantee they'll look good."
Xie Junfei had just opened her mouth to say something when Huo's mother pushed her into the tailor's arms. The round-faced female tailor laughed as she picked up a measuring tape:
"As expected of the young mistress of the Huo family, her figure is so beautiful, she's a perfect clothes hanger. In my opinion, she looks good in anything!"
Mrs. Huo smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling at the compliments.
"That's right, don't you even know whose daughter-in-law she is!"
Xie Junfei was about to interrupt when the old master grabbed her waist.
"Oh dear, young mistress, please don't move! Your bust measurement will be off if you talk!"
Unable to speak, Xie Junfei could only place her hopes on Huo Shen, who stood by Huo's mother's side.
Huo Shen and the little girl looked at each other and nodded gently.
While Xie Junfei was taking measurements for the clothes, Huo Shen pulled his mother aside.
Huo Shen asked his mother in a low voice:
"Mom, what are you doing? This little girl just finished her exams and was finally able to sleep in a bit, and you wake her up so early this morning!"
Mrs. Huo gave her son a light pat on the shoulder.
"What do you know, young man? We have a lot to do today. If you sleep in, you might miss your deadline."
"The Xie family is newly rich; they've never held an engagement banquet before and have no experience. Besides, you don't know anything about the baby's situation, and there's no reliable elder in the family to help."
"So I've already discussed it with Wenzhou. I, as the mother-in-law, will be in charge of the engagement banquet. We'll invite a few close families to hold a small, lively event in the capital to solidify our relationship first. After the wedding, we'll hold a big one at the old family home."
Mrs. Huo loves lively gatherings and can't stop talking about them, then she started counting on her fingers:
"We'll hold it at Mom's Wanxiang Mansion. Mom had her engagement banquet there. You see, Mom and your dad have lived happily together for most of their lives, which means the place has good symbolism and good feng shui. But most importantly, the place is spacious."
"The antiques, land deeds, jewelry, jade, gold, leather goods and other items required for the Huo family's betrothal gifts have all been prepared according to the standard. Your father and mother have added some more for you. I estimate that the second floor will not be able to hold them all. We will have someone tidy up the third floor as well, which should be just right."
Seeing that Huo's mother was still talking, Huo Shen quickly interrupted:
"Stop, stop, stop! When did Xie Junfei and I get engaged? I didn't even know about this!"
Mrs. Huo glanced at her son sideways:
"Don't think I don't know. You've been sneaking into her bed for half a year now. What are you waiting for if not to get engaged? Don't you want to take responsibility for her?"
Seeing that a huge problem was about to be pinned on him, Huo Shen immediately retorted:
"Who said I don't want to take responsibility? I dream of getting married as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Huo rolled her eyes:
"Then what are you still babbling about here? Wait until the masseur has finished measuring the baby before letting her measure you, so you don't embarrass us, mother and daughter-in-law, by looking like a beggar that day."
After saying this, Huo's mother was about to turn and leave when Huo Shen quickly grabbed her:
"I haven't finished speaking yet, Mom, why are you in such a hurry?"
Huo's mother was driven crazy by her son:
"Speak your mind! What did I do to deserve having such a rascal like you? You can't have a moment's peace."
As everyone knows, the person you absolutely cannot mess with in the Huo family is Huo's mother. Seeing his mother angry, Huo Shen could only keep his words brief:
“I know you want a wife, but there are too many things to do right now. Guang Tia, Shen Huaishan, and Xiao Xie are all too busy. Why don’t we wait until everything is completely resolved before talking about it?”
Mrs. Huo could no longer stand the son she had raised, and slapped him on the arm:
"What do you know, you brat?"
"An engagement isn't a wedding, why are you making such a fuss with your mother around!"
"Besides, how old are you this year? Other babies will still be beautiful young girls in two years, but in two more years you'll be old and faded, do you think anyone will still want you?"
"Get things done now, so that your baby won't dump you when he goes to college and sees the world. You'll have no one to cry to then."
Huo Shen, who is only twenty-eight years old this year:.........
Fine, he still can't win an argument with his mother.
Seeing that Huo Shen remained silent, Huo's mother sighed softly:
"Most importantly, only after we get engaged will Xiao Xie be considered one of the Huo family members at the old house."
“I looked at the information about the Shen family in Jiangnan last night. Their strength is just as good as our Huo family.”
“If Xiao Xie doesn’t get engaged to you, and then it really comes down to a fight with the Shen family, your dad will definitely be fine, but those old fogies on the Huo Group’s board of directors will definitely not be willing to offend the Shen family for Xiao Xie’s sake.”
"Only when Xiao Xie becomes one of our own, sharing both the prosperity and the ruin of the Huo family, will those old fogies on the board of directors spare no effort to help her, understand?"
"Mom knows you can't live without Xiao Xie, and that's why she's so anxious for your own good."
Hearing his mother's painstaking planning for Xie Junfei, Huo Shen fell silent. Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a long time, Huo's mother knew that her son had taken it to heart. She sighed softly and turned to continue entertaining Xie Junfei.
The Huo family has strict rules. At the engagement banquet, the bride usually wears pink. The tailor brought out a book of sample fabrics, and Huo's mother personally selected a piece of lotus root pink Suzhou brocade fabric. The fabric was printed with peony patterns, and the material shimmered like water in the sunlight. It was extremely beautiful.
Mrs. Huo touched the smooth satin surface, smiled at Xie Junfei, and said:
“Your father-in-law just gave me a Hetian jade bracelet the other day. It’s made from top-quality seed material from Xinjiang. It’s not anything rare, but it’s perfect for pairing with a cheongsam. I’ll have someone bring it back from Shanxi for your engagement.”
Xie Junfei was somewhat surprised:
"got engaged?"
Mrs. Huo still had a smiling face:
"Yes, when you wear a bright red agate brocade over your cheongsam, it will look absolutely stunning."